Bellary/Bangalore: The ”Republic of Bellary” once again lived up to its dubious distinction as a one-time illegal mining haven, with a huge haul of cash, financial instruments and valuables worth Rs 18.80 crore in three separate raids in the last 24 hours.
Also, explosives allegedly meant for booth capturing were recovered from a warehouse.
Breaking their previous record of seizing Rs 1.5 crore cash in Bellary, Election Commission’s flying squad, district administration, the police and Income Tax sleuths recovered Rs 8.76 crore cash from the office and residence of one Ramesh Parashuram Puriya alias Chor Babulal. Further search unearthed Kisan Vikas Patras of Rs 4.3 crore value, uncashed cheques worth Rs 5 crore and unaccounted gold biscuits.
“The total recovery of cash and other material from Puriya’s house is worth Rs 17.18 crore. He is a local financier who is learnt to have been active in mining business,” V Ponnuraj, Officer on Special Duty in the office of Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer said in Bangalore. Ponnuraj said it is suspected that the cash recovered from Babulal’s house may contain fake currency, which the I-T sleuths were verifying. A case under Sections 171 and 188 of the Indian Penal Code has been registered
